Casing landing device



Sept. 7, 1965 J. w. MURRAY, JR

CASING LANDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1959 JIM/f5 W. MURRAY, .//?,,1NVENT0R. 2 4 WHA/V/V 8 McMA/V/G'AL /9 Al /0 09]: fiar A Z/Zan/ p 1965 J. w. MURRAY, JR 3,204,695

CASING LANDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 JAMES WMUIFR/IZJIQINVENTQR.

W/MNN 8 McMAIV/GAL A/Iorneys for A i/can/ United States Patent 3,204,695 CASING LANDING DEVICE James W. Murray, In, Fullerton, Califl, assignor to Eihaffer Tool Works, a corporation of California Filed Oct. 5, 1959, 'Ser. No. 844,541 13 Claims. (Cl. 166-'55.6)

This invention relates generally to well drilling equipment and relates more particularly to casing landing devices.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with oil well drilling equipment for use in underwater drilling operations, and is herein shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

The present method of landing casing includes the making up of the casing when the hole has been conditioned to receive it, the casing then being run into the hole until it reaches a predetermined depth or becomes stuck. The casing is then cemented in place while its weight is being supported by elevators which grip the top joint of the casing, said elevators being in turn supported or suspended by the traveling blocks in the derrick.

Thereafter the slips, which permanently support the casing, are installed and there are several ways or methods for installation of such slips.

In one such method the blowout preventers are first disconnected from the bowl or casing head in which the casing is to be landed. The blowout preventers are raised high enough to insert the slips into the bowl around the casing string to be hung and after the slips have been inserted, the casing is lowered until the load is transmitted from the elevators to the slips in the landing bowl. The casing is then cut off far enough above the slips to allow for the insertion of a packing unit. After the packing unit has been installed, the blowout preventers are reconnected.

In a second method a unitized slip and packing element is used which is split on one side and hinged on the other. This unit is wrapped around the casing below the elevators and is then locked across the split section and forced down around the suspended casing string, through the blowout preventers and finally into place in the landing bowl. The casing is lowered until the load is transmitted from the elevators to the slips of the Wrap around hanger which is in the landing bowl. This load, which is now supported by the slips, is used to force the packing in against the casing and out against the landing bowl to effect the required seal. Thereafter the blowout preventers are disconnected and raised and the pipe is out 01f.

These methods for landing casing are satisfactory for land based wells. However, these procedures become impossible forsubsea drilling and production work as it is necessary in this type of drilling to land the strings of casing on the sea floor from drilling apparatus which is on or above the surface of the water. The slips must be set, must take the casing load after which the casing must be packed off and finally said casing must be cut off. All this must be done without removing the blowout preventers.

The carrying out of these procedures under water, and particularly in relatively deep water, presents numerous problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which will solve these problems.

It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character which will allow the casing to be run down with collars to any depth.

It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus of this character which will land the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character which will pack oh the annulus.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide Patented sept. 77, I965 apparatus of this character which will cut the casing at the proper location.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of this character adapted to be remotely controlled as from the surface of the ocean or other body of water under which the drilling operations are carried out.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively simple in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is reliable in operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufiiciently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent one arrangement. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a side view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of one side of the apparatus or device with the slips in the expanded position and the cutter knives in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1 showing the slips in the expanded position; t

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the slips in the contracted position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the slips in the contracted position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar FIG. 4 but showing the cutter knives in cutting position with the upper portion of the casing severed from the lower portion thereof;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one side of the device showing the lower portion of the device suspending the casing and packing ofi the annulus, the upper part of the device having been removed;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the heads of the bolts whereby the upper and lower parts of the apparatus or device are releasably connected together; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the lower body of the cutter mechanism showing a slot for reception of the head of a connecting bolt, such head being shown in FIG. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device or apparatus comprises a slip and packing assembly, indicated generally at 15, and a cutter assembly, indicated generally at 16, the two assemblies being releasably connected together. Both assemblies are normally mounted on a tubular sleeve 18.

The slip and packing assembly is disposed on a lower portion of the sleeve 18 and comprises lower guide means, indicated generally at 19, comprising a plurality of arcuate segments 20 disposed about the lower end portion of sleeve 18 which holds said guide means in the expanded position with adjacent ends of the segments faced some what apart as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lower ends of the guide means segments 20 are externally tapered downwardly and inwardly as at 21 and said segments are also internally tapered downwardly and outwardly as at 22, the tapered portions 21 being adapted to seat on an internal shoulder or seat 24 of the bowl of a subsea well completion head 25. The segments 20 are provided with external grooves 26 annularly aligned with each other and in which is disposed an annular, contraction spring 27. Spring 27 is formed of coiled spring wire and urges the segments inwardly toward a contracted position.

The upper ends of the segments are in a plane normal to the axis of the sleeve 18 and there is an annular packing rubber or sealing element 28 disposed on said upper segment ends. The packing rubber or sealing element is of suitable well-known material which :resists the action of fluids or other elements into which it comes in contact and'said sealing element is disposed under tension so that said sealing element will contract when the sleeve 18 is removed from the slip and packing assembly.

Resting on the upper surface of the packing rubber or sealing element 28, and disposed about the sleeve 18, are a plurality of arcuately shaped slip carrier segments 30, the adjacent edges of said slip carrier segments being annularly spaced apart from each other. Segments 30 are provided with transversely extending grooves 31 which are aligned to provide annular grooves in which are disposed springs 32 of the same character as the spring 27. Springs 32 are under tension and urge the slip carrier segments toward a contracted position.

There is means for ope'rably connectingthe slip carrier segments 30, the packing rubber or sealing element 28 and the lower guide means segments 20, said means comprising T -head bolts 35 which extend downwardly from the upper ends of the segments 30 through openings provided therefor in said segments, through openings provided therefor in the packing rubber '28 and into tapped bores 36 extending downwardly from the upper ends of the segments 20, the lower ends of said bolts 35 being externally threaded and screwed into the tapped bores 36 centrally located in the respective segments.

The segments 20 are provided with notches 38 extending in opposite-directions from the adjacent edges of said segments and in alignment with each other. In the adjacent notches are arcuate links 39 which are shorter than the combined length of the notches 38 and said links bridge across the edges of the segments 20. There are a pair of slots 40 in each of the links 39, saidslots being circumferentially aligned and receive respective pins 35a. It will be apparent that the links 39 operably tie the segments 20 together. As will be seen in FIG. 3, the pins 35a are at the remote ends of the slots 40 relative to the slots of any of the links when the slip and packing assembly is in the expanded position but when said assembly contracts the bolts will be in the opposite ends of said slots, as best shown in FIG. 5.

Each of the slip carrier segments 30 has an interior surface 42 which is inclined outwardly and upwardly to provide cam surfaces for slips 43, the outer sides 44 of said slips being complementary to the cam surface 42, the lower ends of said slips being spaced upwardly from the lower end of the interiorly relieved portion of the respective segments 30 forming the cam surfaces 42. The slips are arcuately shaped about the sleeve 18 when the slip and packing assembly is in the expanded position and the interior surfaces of said slips are grooved to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending teeth 46. Each slip 43 has a plurality of openings 47 therethrough which extend downwardly from the upper end and in which bolts 35 are received. It is to be noted that the openings 47 are of greater diameter than the diameter of the bolts 35 so that said slips may move longitudinally on said bolts and have a certain amount of lateral movement.

At the upper end of each bolt 35 there is a head, indicated generally at 50, and comprising a square base 51, an upstanding central part 52 integral with the base 51 and of smaller dimensions. Part 52 is offset on the base toward the axis of the assembly and is provided with an integral top part 53 which has laterally extending edge portions 54 of substantially the same width as the width of the base, thereby providing oppositely opening grooves d 55, said grooves being parallel with each other and open at both ends.

Cutter assembly 16 comprises a tubular cutter body 66 having a somewhat enlarged diameter portion 61 at the lower end, said enlarged portion 61 being internally threaded. The assembly 16 includes a tubular lower support ring, indicated generally at 62, having a lower end portion 63 with an internal diameter such as to slidably receive the expansion release sleeve 18 and to be disposed thereon when the cutter mechanism is in the inoperative position. At the upper end of the part 63, the lower support ring has an upwardly extending, outwardly offset cylindrical portion 64, the lower end of which is integral with the upper end of the part 63 of said lower support ring.

The internal diameter of the offset part 64 of the support ring 62 is greater than the internal diameter of the part 63 and at the upper end of said part 63 there is a shoulder 65 on which an annular thrust bearing 66 is operably disposed. The internal diameter of the bearing 66 is such that the sleeve 18 is slidably received therein, while "the external diameter of said bearing is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the ottset portion 64. An upper internal end portion of the offset portion 64 is internally threaded, as at 67. Above the thrust hearing 66 is disposed an upper support ring, indicated generally at 70, having a lower end part 7'1 of substantially the same thickness as the width of the thrust hearing so as to slidably receive the sleeve 18 and engage the internal wall of the o'itset part '64 of the lower support ring. The ring 70 is provided with a cylinder part extending axially from the upper end and of somewhat reduced external diameter relative to the external diameter of the part 71 so as to form an external annular shoulder 76. The part 75 has an internal diameter substantially less than that of the part 71, so as to leave an annular recessed part at the bottom of which isa shoulder 77, there being an annular chamber defined between the part 75 and the expansion sleeve 18 when the latter is in "position within the cutter assembly 16. At its upper end, the part 75 is externally threaded and is screwed into the threaded portion 61 of the cutter body. Between the lower end of the cutter body 66 and the upper end of the offset part 64 of the lower support ring there is a lower support ring nut 79 which has a depending annular flange 80 which extends axially of the nut and is externally threaded for threadable reception with the internally threaded portion 67 of the offset part 64. The lower end of the flange 80 of the lower support ring nut engages the shoulder 76 of the upper support-ring.

Cutter body '60 includes an upwardly extending reduced diameter part which is cylindrical in form and which is provided with a plurality of annularly spaced openings 86 therein for operable reception of respective cutters 87. Each cutter is provided with an opening 88 adjacent to the upper end for pivotal support on a pivot pin 89, the ends of which are received securely in openings 90 provided therefor in the body portion 85 at the sides of the openings 86. Thus the cutters are pivoted at the sides of the openings 86 at their upper end. Each cutter is provided at its lower end with an inwardly curved portion 91, the end 92 of which is sharpened for cutting.

From the upper end of each opening 86 there is a recessed portion 93 in the outer side of the part 85 for reception of a leaf spring 94, the upper end of which is secured in said recess by means of a screw 95 disposed in a tapped bore 96 provided therefor in the bottom of the upper end of the recess 93. The spring extends downwardly and the free end 97 thereof engages a shoulder 98 on the upper end of the cutter above the pivot pin 89 to thereby urge the cutter in a counter-clockwise direction.

Sleeve 18 is also slidable within the cutter assembly and has a slidable, but relatively close fit with the part 85 of the cutter body as well as the upper and lower support rings. The upper end of sleeve 18 is provided with an external flange 100 which may be considered a piston which slidably engages the inner surface of a part 1411 which extends axially upwardly of the part of portion 85 of the cutter body. The internal diameter of the part 101 is larger than internal diameter of the part 85 so that the part 101 may be considered a cylinder, and said part 101, flange 100, and adjacent part of sleeve 18 define an expansible pressure chamber 102. Piston B is provided with an external annular groove in which is disposed a sealing element 103 which may be an O-ring or any other suitable type of sealing means. Below the chamber N2 the part 35 of the cutter body is provided with an internal annular groove for operable reception of a sealing element 104 which may be an O-ring or any other suitable type of sealing means.

Piston 100 is disposed above the lower end 106 of the chamber or cylinder 102 and the latter is connected by means of a conduit 167 with any suitable source of pressure fluid. It is to be understood that the part 1911 extends upwardly a sufiicient distance so that when fluid pressure is applied in the chamber 1152 the sleeve 18 will be pushed upwardly to a point at least above the opening 86.

Means is provided for forcing the cutting ends 92 of the cutters inwardly to cut a casing disposed within the cutter assembly. This means includes a cutter expansion ring 110 slidably disposed within the upper end portion of the part 75 and the adjacent portion of the cutter body below the openings 86. Expansion ring 1111 is also disposed on the sleeve 18 and said ring and sleeve are adapted to have relative sliding movement.

At its upper end expansion ring 1149 is beveled upwardly and outwardly and normally engages the upwardly and outwardly curved outer edges 111 of the cutters, so that upward pressure of said ring on said cutter will urge the cutting ends of said cutter inwardly. Between the shoulder 77 and the lower end of the expansion ring is an annular space in which is received a cutter expansion ring 112 which urges said expansion ring upwardly.

The following is a brief description, by way of example, of procedure used in the drilling of a well and landing of casing or pipe of said well in underwater operations.

After the initial hole has been drilled, a string of conductor pipe, which may be 20" for example, is made up and run with the last or top joint connected to the mandrel portion of a 20" Shatter Tool Works casing safety joint of well-known character. This mandrel is locked to a landing and guide base which will rest on the sea floor and support the conductor while it is being cemented. The barrel portion of the casing safety joint is connected to a riser back to the vessel and 20" blowout preventer equipment of well-known character is installed between the casing safety joint barrel and riser. The riser usually consists, from the bottom up, of: a casing safety joint barrel which provides a releasable connection, a flexible member or joint, a slip joint, and enough pipe toreturn mud back to the vessel. Through this hookup, hole is made for surface pipe.

The barrel portion of the 20" casing safety joint is re leased and retrieved along with the riser.

A string of surface casing, 13%" for example, is made up and run in, the last or top joint being connected to a Shafler Subsea Well Completion Head of well-known character. At the extreme top of this Head is the mandrel portion of a 13%" casing safety joint which provides means for the installation of blowout preventer equipment during drilling and workover operations. It also provides for installation of the well completion cap upon removal of the blowout preventers.

There are two side outlets in this head which provide for annulus and tubing access and the necessary valve lines and remote control hoses or wires are connected to the head just before it is run.

This subsea well completion head is then run in, landed and cemented after which blowout preventers are lowered and connected by the use of the 13%" casing safety joint. At the lower end of the casing safety joint barrel there is an inverted funnel which acts as a guide shoe, thus aiding in the connection.

Prior to running 9%" casing (for example), indicated at 124, and which is to be supported in the slips 43, the present casing landing device and cutter is made up on a string of 12" pipe and run into the riser until it stops above the subsea well completion head 25. The slip and packing element 15 is held in expanded position by the sleeve 18 and will not pass through the head into position. The 12 pipe is disconnected and tied off just below the rotary table, thus suspending the landing device just above the blowout preventers. The casing string, 9%", is now run into the 12" pipe. This casing and the collars thereof are free to pass through the landing device and the casing is run and cemented.

The 12" pipe is then lowered so that the landing device is lowered to a position adjacent the well completion head, with the sleeve 18 in the position shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 18 is now forced up by hydraulic pressure supplied to the chamber 102 through the conduit 107 which is connected to any suitable source of pressure fluid such as, for example, a pump, not shown, which has its inlet supplied from any source of hydraulic fluid, not shown.

Sleeve 18 is raised by hydraulic pressure until it engages the lower end 125 of pipe 126 to which the present device or apparatus is connected. The slip and packing element contract against the 9%" casing. At this point the load of the casing 124 is released from the elevators above the sea and as the casing moves downward in the soft cement, the slips, being held against the casing by the springs, take the load. The element 15, thus, moves down into position in the subsea well completion head, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the slip and packing assembly contracts, the slips securely engage the casing disposed within them and the bolts 35 move radially inwardly with the movement of the parts of the slip and packing assembly to cause the heads of said bolts to pass inwardly in the grooves 115 to a point whereat they are disengaged by the lugs 116 as best shown in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the slip and packing assembly parts are positioned as shown in FIG. 3 when said parts are in the expanded position and moved to the positions shown in FIG. 5 when the slip and packing assembly contracts under the force of the springs and packing element. With the contraction of the slip and packing assembly, the latter is disconnected from the cutter assembly and the load is transferred from the elevators at the vessel to the slips in the head, thus landing the casing. One more joint of 12- pipe is then picked up, run over the 9%" casing left standing in the rotary table, and reconnected to the string which is tied off below the rotary table. This 12" ipe is then rotated slowly by air tongs or power swivel thus rotating the cutter and cutting off the remaining 9% casing. The cutter is supported at its lower end by the thrust bearing 66, and the knives are fed by the expander sleeve which is urged upwardly by the spring 112. Therefore, the string of 12" casing need not be supported at the vessel and would be stabilized inside the wellhead and riser below and at the rotary table at the vessel.

After cutting off the 9% casing, the remainder is retrieved, as well as the spring of 12 pipe and cutter. This leaves the slip and packing element in place in the wellhead with the 9 /8" casing landed and packed otf. Other sizes and types of casing may be landed in the same manner in other stages of the drilling operations, the hereinabove described operation being merely by way of example.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbefore described being merely by way of example.

I claim:

ll. Casing landing apparatus, comprising: a cutter assembly having a tubular body with a plurality of annularly spaced openings therein, a pressure cylinder defined by an upper end portion of said body, said cylinder having means for connection with a source of pressure fluid; a cutter for each of said annularly spaced openings; means pivotally mounting the upper end of each cutter in respective openings, said cutters having inwardly curved free end cutter portions, the free ends of said cutters extending below the lower ends of the respective cutter openings to limit outward swinging of said cutters; yielding means for each cutter, said yielding means being secured to the cutter body and engaging a respective cutter to urge same in a direction to move the free end thereof outwardly; a cutter expansion ring slidably disposed within the cutter body and having its upper end engaging the lower ends of the cutters so as to move said lower ends inwardly upon upward movement of said ring; spring means acting on said ring and urging same in a direction to force the cutters inwardly; a thrust bearing adjacent the lower end of the cutter assembly and connected to the cutter body, the lower end of said cutter assembly having a part with radial grooves therein and lugs at the sides of said grooves; a slip and packing assembly including a plurality of slip carrier segments, arcuate in cross section and disposed in side by side relationship, there being longitudinal openings in said slip carrier segments and external grooves in said segments to provide annularly extending spring receiving grooves; lower guide segments beneath respective slip segments and having external groove portions aligned to form a spring receiving groove; springs in said grooves to yieldably urge contraction of the slip carrier segments and said guide segments; arcuate links connecting together the lower guide segments but permitting relative movement thereof between expanded and contracted positions; an annular packing element between said slip segments and guide segments, and having longitudinal openings therein, said slip carriers having upwardly and outwardly tapered internal portions; a slip for each slip carrier, each slip having an outer surface corresponding to the inner tapered surface of the respective slip carrier and having a longitudinal opening therethrough; bolts received in the openings in the slip carrier segments, packing element and lower guide means segments securing same together the bolts being of smaller diameter than the longitudinally extending openings in the slips so that said slips may have radial and longitudinal movement relative to the slip carriers, said bolts having heads disposed above the slips and engageable in inwardly open-ended transverse slots in the lower end of the cutter assembly part; a sleeve disposed within said assemblies of such diameter as to hold the slip and packing assembly parts in the expanded position and the cutters of the cutter assembly in an inoperative position; and an external flange at the upper end of said sleeve, said flange being in the cylinder portion of the cutter body and serving as a piston, the connection for pressure fluid for said cylinder being disposed below said piston so that pressure fiuid supplied thereto will force the piston and sleeve thereof upwardly to a point above the cutters so that the slip and packing assembly may contract and engage a pipe disposed therein and seat on a completion head, contraction of said slip and packing assembly disengaging the bolt heads from the transverse slots in the cutter assembly to permit independent rotation of the latter, the spring means engaging the cutter expansion ring forcing the latter up- 8 wardly and thereby forcing the cutters inwardly to cuttingly engage pipe within the cutter body so that rotation of the cutter body will cause the cutters to cut off the upper portion of said pipe so that the latter may be raised.

2. Casing landing apparatus, comprising: a cutter assembly having a tubular body with a plurality of annularly spaced openings therein, a pressure cylinder adjacent the upper end having means for connection with a source of pressure fluid; a cutter for each of said annularly spaced openings; means pivotally mounting each cutter in its respective opening, said cutters having inwardly curved free end cutter portions, the free ends of said cutters extending beyond the adjacent ends of the respective cutter openings to limit outward swinging of said cutters; a cutter expansion ring slidably disposed within the cutter body and having its upper end engaging the adjacent curved ends of the cutters so as to urge said ends inwardly; yielding means acting on said ring and urging same in a direction to force the cutters inwardly; a thrust bearing adjacent the lower end of the cutter assembly and forming a part thereof; a slip and packing assembly including a plurality of slip carriers arcuate in cross section and disposed in side by side relationship; guide means segments below said slip carriers; springs yieldably urging contraction of the slip carriers and guide segments; lost motion means connecting together the guide segments permitting relative radial movement thereof so that the assembly may move between expanded and contracted positions; an annular packing element between the slip carrier and guide segments, said slip carriers having upwardly and outwardly tapered inner portions; a slip Within each slip carrier, each slip having an outer surface corresponding to the inner tapered surface of the respective slip carrier; connecting means operably connecting together the slip carriers, packing element and lower guide means segments, said slips and connecting means being connected so as to permit longitudinal and radial movement thereof relative to the slip carriers; means on said connecting means radially releasably connecting same with the cutter assembly; a longitudinally movable sleeve disposed within said assemblies of such diameter as to hold the slip and packing assembly parts in the expanded position and the cutters of the cutter assembly in an inoperative position; and an external flange at the upper end of said sleeve, said flange being in the cylinder portion of the cutter body and serving as a piston, the connection for pressure fluid for said cylinder being disposed below said piston so that pressure fluid supplied thereto will force the piston and sleeve thereof upwardly to a point above the cutters so that the slip and packing assembly may contract and engage a pipe disposed therein and seat in a completion head, contraction of said slip and packing assembly radially disengaging the means on said connecting means from the cutter assembly to permit independent rotation of the latter, the yielding means engaging the cutter expansion ring forcing the latter upwardly and thereby forcing the cutters inwardly to cuttingly engage said pipe within the cutter body so that rotation of the cutter body will cause the cutter-s to cut off the upper portion of the pipe so that the latter may be raised.

3. In casing landing apparatus: a cutter assembly having a tubular body including a cylinder adjacent the upper end adapted to be connected with a source of pressure fluid; a plurality of annularly spaced cutters operably mounted on said cutter assembly, said cutters being movable between an inoperative position and an inwardly 1y extended operative cutting position; yielding means on said assembly urging said cutters to the cutting position and second means on said assembly for urging said cutters into their inoperative position; a thrust bearing carried by the cutter assembly; a slip and packing assembly beneath said cutter assembly and axially aligned there with, said slip and packing assembly including a plurality of annularly arranged segments; yielding means urging 9 said segments to a contracted position; slips within certain of said segments, said slips and said certain segments having engaging cam surfaces; an annular resilient packing elements; means operatively connecting together said segments, slips and packing element, said last means connecting said slips and said segments to have longitudinal andradial movement relative to each other; releasable means carried by one of said assemblies for connecting the slip and packing assembly to the cutter assembly when the'slip and packing assembly is in the expanded position,'said releasable means moving to a release position when said slip and packing assembly is in the contracted position, thereby disconnecting said assemblies from each other; and a tubular, cylindrical sleeve having a piston portion operably disposed in the cylinder of the cutter assembly, said sleeve extending in said assemblies and being of such size as to hold the cutters in an inoperative position and to maintain the slip and packing assembly in the expanded position, said sleeve being movable out of the slip and packing assembly and out of the way of the cutters by fluid pressure in said cylinder so that said cutters will be moved inwardly to the cutting position by the last mentioned yielding means.

4. In casing landing apparatus: a cutter assembly having a tubular body; a plurality of annularly spaced cutters on said cutter assembly, means on said cutter assembly operably mounting said cutters for movement between an inoperative position and a cutting position; means on said cutter assembly urging said cutters to the cutting position and second means on said cutter assembly urging said cutters to the inoperative position; a slip and packing assembly beneath said cutter assembly, said slip and packing assembly including a plurality of annularly arranged segments; yielding means urging said segments to a contracted position; slips within said segments, said slips and said segments having engaging cam surfaces; an annular resilient packing element; connecting means operatively connecting together said segments, slips, and packing element, said connecting means including means releasably connected to the cutter assembly when said slip and packing assembly is in the expanded position and movable to a release position, when said slip and packing assembly is in the contracted position, whereat said connecting means is disconnected from the cutter assembly; a cylindrical sleeve extending in said assemblies and being of such size as to hold the cutters out of operative position and to maintain the slip and packing assembly in the expanded position; and means for moving said sleeve out of the slip and packing assembly and out of the Way of the cutters so that said cutters may move inwardly to the cutting position.

5. In casing landing apparatus: a cutter assembly having a tubular body; a plurality of cutters on said cutter assembly movable between an inoperative position and a cutting position; means urging said cutters to the cutting position and second means urging them to the inoperative position; an expandable and contractable slip and packing assembly beneath said cutter assembly, said slip and packing assembly including a plurality of annularly arranged slips; and annular resilient packing element; means urging contraction of said slip and packing assembly; releasable connecting means carried by the slip and packing assembly and positioned for connection to the cutter assembly when the slip and packing assembly is in the expanded position, said connecting means being moved to a release position when the slip and packing assembly is contracted; means holding said cutters in an inoperative position and said slip and packing assembly in the expanded position; and means for actuating the last mentioned means to release said cutters and allow the slip to contract under the influence of said means urging contraction of the latter assembly.

6. The invention defined by claim wherein the slip and packing assembly includes an external shoulder for seating on a shoulder within a well completion head.

7. In casing landing apparatus: a cutter assembly including an elongated hollow body open at the ends; cutter means on said cutter assembly movable between an inoperative and an operative position; means on said cutter assembly biasing said cutters toward the operative position and second means on said cutter assembly biasing said cutters toward the inoperative position; and an expandable and contractable slip and packing assembly beneath said cutter assembly, said slip and packing assembly including a plurality of slips, and annular resilient packing element; means urging contraction of said slip and packing assembly; means holding said cutter means in an inoperative position and said slip and packing assembly in the expanded position; means for moving the last mentioned means to a position whereat the slip and packing assembly is free to contract and the cutter means is free to move to the cutting position; and releasable connecting means movable with contractive and expansive movements of the slip and cutter assembly between a position interconnecting said assemblies and a position whereat said assemblies are disconnected from each other.

8. A cutter assembly for easing landing apparatus, comprising: a tubular body with a plurality of annularly spaced openings therein, a pressure cylinder adjacent the upper end having means for connection with a source of pressure fluid; a cutter for each of said annularly spaced openings; means pivotally mounting the upper end of each cutter in respective openings, said. cutter having inwardly curved free end cutter portions, the free ends of said cutters extending below the lower ends of the respective cutter openings to limit outward swinging of said cutters; yielding means for each cutter, said yielding means being secured to the cutter body and engaging a respective cutter to urge same in a direction to move the free ends of said cutters outwardly; a cutter expansion ring slidably disposed within the cutter body and having its upper end engaging the lower ends of the cutters so as to urge said lower ends inwardly; yielding means acting on said ring and urging same in a direction to force the cutters inwardly; a thrust bearing adjacent the lower end of the cutter assembly and connected to the cutter body; a sleeve disposed within said assembly of such diameter as to hold the cutters in an inoperative position; and an external flange at the upper end of said sleeve, said flange being in the cylinder portion of the cutter body and serving as a piston, the connection for pressure fluid for said cylinder being disposed below said piston so that pressure fluid supplied thereto will force the piston and sleeve thereof upwardly to a point above the cutters to release same.

9. A slip and packing assembly for casing landing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of slip carrier segments arcuate in cross section and disposed in side by side relationship, there being longitudinal openings in said slip carrier segments and external grooves in said segments to provide annularly extending spring receiving grooves; lower guide segments beneath respective slip segments and having external groove portions aligned to form a spring receiving groove; springs in said grooves to yieldably urge contraction of the slip carrier segments and guide segments; arcuate links connecting together the lower guide segments permitting relative movement thereof between expanded and contracted positions; an annular packing element between said slip segments and guide segments and having longitudinal openings therein, said slip carriers having upwardly and outwardly tapered internal portions; a slip for each slip carrier, each slip having an outer surface corresponding to the inner tapered surface of the respective slip carrier and having a longitudinal opening therethrough; bolts received in the openings in the slip carrier segments, packing element and lower guide means segments securing same together, the bolts being of smaller diameter than the longitudinally extending openings in the slips so that said slips may have radial and longitudinal movement relative to the slip carriers, said bolts having heads disposed above the slips for engagement with corresponding parts of a cutter assembly; and a sleeve disposed within said assembly of such diameter as to hold the slip and packing assembly parts in expanded position, said sleeve being slidable longitudinally in said assembly to a position permitting contraction of said assembly.

10. A cutter assembly for casing landing apparatus, comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of cutters movable between an inoperative position and a cutting position; means on said body urging said cutters to the cutting position and second means on said body urging said cutters to the inoperative position; a pressure cylinder adjacent the upper end of said body having means for connection with a source of pressure fluid; a sleeve disposed within said body of such diameter as to hold the cutters in an inoperative position; and an external flange at the upper end of said sleeve, said flange being in the cylinder portion of the cutter body and serving as a piston the connection for pressure fluid from said cylinder being disposed below said piston so that pressure fluid supplied thereto Will force the piston and sleeve thereof upwardly to a point above the cutters to release them.

11. A slip and packing assembly for easing landing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of annularly arranged slips; an annular resilient packing element secured to said slips; means urging contraction of said slips; releasable means for connecting the slip and packing assembly to a cutter assembly when the slips of said packing assembly are in an expanded position and for disconnecting and releasing said assemblies when the latter assembly is in a contracted position; means for normally holding said slips in an expanded position, said means being actuatable to a slip release position; and means for actuating the last mentioned means to said slip release position to allow the slips to contract under the influence of said means urging contraction of said slips.

12. A slip and packing assembly for easing landing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of annularly arranged slips; an annular resilient packing element secured to said slips; means urging contraction of said slips; mean-s slidable within said slips for holding said slips in an expanded position whereat said slips are annularly spaced apart; and means for actuating the last mentioned means to allow the slips to move to a contracted position under the influence of said means urging contraction of the slips.

13. The invention defined by claim 12 wherein there is an external shoulder adjacent the lower end of said assembly for seating in a completion head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,533,362 4/25 Babin 285-144 1,614,840 1/27 Jones 166-556 1,810,344 6/31 Church 166-558 1,868,119 7/32 Segelhorst 285-144 1,944,594 1/34 Church :et al. 166-556 2,202,985 6/40 Ellis 166-556 2,410,589 11/46 Segelhorst 166-75 2,553,838 5/51 Allen et al. 285-146 2,563,851 8/51 Lundeen et a1. 285-146 2,689,139 9/54 Jones et a1 166-88 2,690,344 9/54 Allen 285-146 2,709,490 5/55 Trimble et al. 166-558 2,920,909 1/60 Allen 285-146 3,006,412 10/61 Brown 166-556 3,024,842 3/62 Ringler 166-556 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN BENDETT, BENJAMIN HERSH,

Examiners. 

12. A SLIP AND PACKING ASSEMBLY FOR CASING LANDING APPARATUS, COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF ANNULARLY ARRANGED SLIPS; AN ANNULAR RESILIENT PACKING ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID SLIPS; MWANS URGING CONTRACTION OF SAID SLIPS; MEANS SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID SLIPS FOR HOLDING SAID SLIPS IN AN EXPANDED POSITION WHEREAT SAID SLIPS ARE ANNULARLY SPACED APARAT; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE LAST MENTIONED MEANS TO ALLOW THE 